Thursday, August 9, 2007

The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess (Wii Version)

The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess is an action-adventure gamee developed by Nintendo Entertainment analysis and developement and published by Nintendo for the Wii and Nintendo GameCube.

The game's story focuses on Link as he tries to rid the world of the Twilight Realm as both a human and a wolf with the help of a mysterious creature named Midna.

Just to let you know, I know almost nothing about the Legend Of Zelda series and I'm getting most of this info from the Wikipedia page: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Legend_of_Zelda:_Twilight_Princess

Anyway, Link transforms into a wolf when entering the Twilight Realm, a void that has ensnared Hyrule. This is not a wholly separate place like the Dark World in A Link to the Past, but a darkened Hyrule. (I'm starting to think that with all this " Light world, Dark world" stuff, that the game is copying Metroid Prime 2's story. Read about Metroid Prime 2 on the Wikipedia page:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metroid_Prime_2.)

The Wii version uses the Wii Remote and Nunchuk's motion sensors and pointers in conjunction with buttons to operate the game. The built-in speaker on the remote is used for sounds like the bowstring of the Hero's Bow being drawn and released, Midna's laugh when using wolf Link to jump from platforms with Midna, and the “Zelda chime” when discovering secrets, though this can be optionally be turned off by turning the Wii remote's volume down to zero, in which case sounds will come through the television like other sounds.

In Twilight Princess, Link shares similar moves between human and wolf. For example, when an enemy is on the ground, Link has the option to finish them off by plunging his sword into their chest; in wolf form, he can do this to poes ( Ghostly Enemies) to rip out their souls.

Link can communicate with animals in wolf form as if they were people. When transformed into a wolf, Link’s sense of smell is greatly improved allowing him to follow trails left by certain characters in the game. With these abilities come some disadvantages. While he is a wolf, Link cannot utilize any of his items, open any doors with handles or climb ladders until he transforms back into a human.

During the game Link gains a number of new sword techniques (called "Hidden Skills") at various points. These techniques are learned by first finding "howling stones" in different areas of Hyrule while in wolf form and howling a song (different for each stone). A golden wolf appears and tells Link to find him in certain places marked on the game map. Once at this marked point and in human form outside the Twilight Realm, the wolf can again be seen and Link is warped to a supernatural area which appears to be on top of clouds. Various Hylian landmarks can be seen jutting up from under the clouds. Here, the wolf transforms into a skeletal ghost form clad in Roman-like armor. The spirit teaches Link up to seven new techniques by allowing Link to try them out on him. After the final technique is learned, the skeletal being makes a claim to being a previous hero who could not pass on these techniques to anyone. The first technique taught by the skeletal warrior must be learned, as the game cannot be completed without it; the other six are optional.

In wolf form, Link automatically has a "sense" ability. Using the sense ability, Link can track down certain characters by following their scents with his enhanced senses. As a wolf, he is also able to find and dig holes to find new passages and uncover buried items such as hearts, Rupees, and treasure chests. The sense ability is also the only way Link is able to hunt for Poes — he can neither see them (except for their lanterns) nor attack them without the ability. In addition, Link can also talk to animals in wolf form, aiding him in gathering useful information.

Also, in a first for a 3D Zelda game, Link is not given a magic meter. The Magic Armor drains his Rupees rather than magic, and magic arrows are not available.

Set a few decades after the events of Ocarina of Time, the game begins with Link living and working as a ranch hand in Ordon Village. When monsters suddenly attack the village and kidnap the village children and his close friend Ilia, Link pursues the attackers and a monster pulls him through a strange black wall which transforms him into a large wolf ("blue eyed beast"), seemingly by the power of the Triforce of Courage. The monster drags him off and he wakes, imprisoned, in Hyrule Castle. An imp-like creature named Midna appears and releases him. She guides him to another of the castle's prisoners: Princess Zelda...

Anyway, I don't want to give away the whole story, so let's talk about the music now, shall we?

For this game, the composers decided on using Final Fantasy composer Nobuo Uematsu's well-known style of creating a main theme (i.e., the overworld theme), then using it continuously throughout the game in the ways of "Theme and Variations." Indeed, excerpts of the Twilight Princess' main theme can be heard in several parts during the game, such as in the Fishing Hole, Gerudo Desert, Snowpeak and during boss battles (when the boss is disabled and vulnerable). The theme can also be heard during the game's ending credits.

Anyway, that's all I'll say for now. ( remember, you can read the full thing on the Wikipedia page:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Legend_of_Zelda:_Twilight_Princess.

This is a game trailer I found on http://www.youtube.com/.

No comments: